Since the start of time, people have stared at the stars and made tales about what was out there. In the beginning, they dreamed up awe-inspiring gods who looked down on them. However, by the 19th century, dreamers began to consider extraterrestrials and other aspects of the science fiction genre. These wars of the worlds helped inspire even more authors to come up with fantastical worlds and universes set in the stars. In the same vein, George Lucas began to dream of an epic war set in the stars.
When George Lucas introduced Star Wars to studios and toy companies, they had their doubts. Luckily, his success as the director of American Graffiti allowed him to fund his passion project. He then capitalized on the doubts of Twentieth Century Fox and ensured that the rights to all the merchandise and sequels remained with him. He did not have as much luck finding a partner to believe in him when it came to toy manufacturing. However, Star Wars eventually found a home with Kenner, which helped him build the franchise into an empire.
Decades after Star Wars first debuted in 1977, the franchise has become one of the most profitable works of fiction known to date. Its merchandise easily generates two to three billion in revenue each year. While many fans buy up new products, collectors seek out classic products, especially those that were made in the 1970s. The passion of these fans has led to record-breaking sales on online auction sites and other second-hand marketplaces.
Presenting the ten most expensive Star Wars collectibles from online auction sites
Star Wars has always been one of the best-selling franchises on the second-hand market. However, the excitement has only ramped up in the last ten years. Now that fans that grew up with the series have spending power, they are ready to hunt down these rare pieces of memorabilia. However, the available stock of pristine pieces goes down each year as various products degrade and fail. Thus, some of these pieces have skyrocketed in price.
With that in mind, we went out to seek out the ten most expensive collectibles that have sold on online auctions. As we scoured the database, we weeded out those pieces that we could not confirm as either legit sales or products. So, there are no movie props that will appear on this list that do not have certificates of authenticity listed in their auction.
With that in mind, we invite you to join us as we explore the ten most expensive Star Wars collectibles from online auctions.
10. Kenner Star Wars 1978 Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi AFA 75 EX+/NM
When Kenner signed on to create toys for Star Wars, they only had a few months available to fully develop the toy line. They managed to pull a hat trick, keeping fans happy with the Early Bird Certificate Program, buying them time to fully develop the action figures. Despite the extra development time, Kenner still ran at a rapid pace to produce the first few toys for the line. Thus, it is no surprise that the earliest Star Wars action figures had an element that was quickly removed from future releases.
In the early phases of development, Kenner came up with a lightsaber that extended in two parts, dubbed double-telescoping lightsabers. The outer layer was thick, but the smaller tip that fully extended was thin. With players needing to pull on this thin plastic, the tips regularly bent on loose figures. Meanwhile, Kenner may have felt that the double-telescoping lightsabers were too expensive to keep around, for they were quickly replaced with lightsabers that only had one piece of plastic that telescoped. Thus, there were only a few figures that ever featured this element.
In addition to the star of the series, Luke Skywalker, the action figure for characters like Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi also originally featured the double-telescoping lightsaber. In addition to figures that were shipped to Early Bird Certificate holders, some of these toys were also packaged and sent to stores. Even though Obi-Wan was Luke’s mentor, he was not as popular as Luke Skywalker. Which makes his action figure rarer than Luke’s and more valuable to collectors.
One of these rare double-telescoping Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi action figures was put up for auction on eBay. This Mint-in-Box action figure was sealed and had been given a 75 EX+/NM grade from the AFA. This grade broke down with the card receiving a 70, the blister an 80, and the figure an 85. When it sold on November 18, 2022, the listing closed at $79,178.00.
9. Return of the Jedi Imperial Scout Trooper (Biker Scout) Scout Blaster Movie Prop
While many fans will be happy to own a simple reproduction of a movie prop, there is nothing like getting the chance to own the real thing. Unfortunately, production companies only create a few versions of each prop that appears on the finished product. Thus, a genuine prop is one of the rarest types of collectibles around. Moreover, most props are held by former cast and crew members until they are ready to release their collection.
During the production of Return of the Jedi, many props were tasked to the US crew to work on as the UK crew was short on time. One of these props was the Scout Blaster designed for the Biker Scouts that appeared on Endor. The film’s art director, James Schoppe, came up with the design for the BlasTech EC-17 hold-out blaster prop that these troops used. He provided a wood carving of his design to the US BlasTech Industries team, who used it to create a mold and casting for the gun. They further customized and detailed the prop with formed resin pieces.
In 2018, James Schoppe offered many parts of his collection to a reseller that specializes in Hollywood memorabilia, Julien’s Auctions. Included with the Scout Blaster movie prop were several extras. For instance, it came with an original copy of a map of multiple Redwood locations used in the film: “First Location Plot Plan – Bukcer Site” and “Second Location Plot Plan – Forest”. It also featured an original copy of a Western Union Telex/TWX from James Bloom to Richard Marquand dated October 19, 1981. Moreover, this auction came with a copy of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
When this auction closed, the movie prop had sold for $90,628.00 on June 23, 2018.
8. Star Wars: A New Hope 14×36 Insert Poster with 77 cast and crew autographs
Finding a movie poster from 1977 in excellent condition is a rare feat. The harsh lights used for poster displays alone could easily damage these posters. Many posters will also become bent or creased while stored away for the future. Finding a movie poster of Star Wars with 77 autographs from cast and crew is an even rarer feat.
Star Wars fans had a possibly once-in-a-lifetime chance to purchase a 14×36 Insert Poster for the 1977 Star Wars film when it appeared on Goldin in 2022. This poster featured autographs from most of the actors from the film and many of the major crew members. To help collectors know that the autographs were authentic, this poster came with a Letter of Authenticity from Beckett.
The lucky Star Wars fan that purchased this poster would gain a one-of-a-kind collectible with autographs from most major names connected to the movie. They would find autographs from main cast members like Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), David Prowse (Darth Vader), and James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader. There were also actors like Garick Hagan who played Biggs, Colin Skeaping who performed stunts and played Stormtroopers, and many others.
Aside from the actors, there was a slew of autographs from the behind-the-scenes crew that made the film possible. Notably, this poster featured the autographs of George Lucas and John Williams. There were also multiple autographs from the ILM crew members and others like Conceptual Artist, Colin Cantwell.
This autographed poster sold on May 22, 2022, with a final price of $91,200.00.
7. Big Box Factory-Sealed Star Wars VHS Tape (1982) Beckett 8.0/A-
Action figures are not the only collectibles that grading services are available for. Beyond typical other collectibles, like comics and trading cards, many companies have become available for Video Games and classic media, like VHS tapes.
When it comes to VHS tapes, very few examples are worth anything in the second-hand market. Most movies have been rereleased on DVD or even more modern media. So, there are not many movies that could only be found on VHS. Instead, collectors will only look for first editions. Before BetaMax and VHS, no movies were made available for consumers to watch in the comfort of their homes. So, these few rare examples are the only one’s worth grading.
A prime example of a valuable VHS tape is the 1982 Star Wars VHS tape. Big Box Factory’s first edition of the 1977 Star Wars movie is highly sought-after by collectors. Thus, it proved a worthwhile endeavor for the prior owner of this collectible to send it in for grading with Beckett. When they examined the tape, they awarded it an 8.0 grade. Its other notable features were a U-Seal LTF Twentieth Century Fox Video horizontal watermark. It also had an ID number: RS513243.
Thanks to the grade, this Star Wars VHS tape sold for an amazing $114,000.00 on Goldin on October 29, 2023.
6. Don Post Studios, Inc. Darth Vader Mask (1977)
While movie props that appeared on screen are the most desirable amongst collectors, many will still seek out reproductions. Especially when the reproduction props are from limited runs that date back to the 1970s. For instance, Don Post Studios released a reproduction of Darth Vader’s helmet not long after the first movie came out in 1977. Unfortunately, these pieces are nowhere near as valuable as a prop from a hit film.
Don Post Studios created their Darth Vader replica out of pliable vinyl. Like the mask from the films, the dome was a separate piece from the face mask. The company also made it out of firmer plastic, which would crack if dropped or otherwise mishandled. There was Velcro located at the top of the mask that would attach to the helmet to hold it in place.
One of these replicas appeared on eBay in 2016 with the box still in excellent condition. The replica came with an “official Star Wars Fan Club card”. It also featured a price sticker from the retail store, which proved that it originally sold for $39.98. Despite this auction closing with a $120,000.00 sale on October 20, 2016, further research proved that this piece was not worth this price. This price was extremely inflated since most other examples sell for 1 to 2 thousand dollars. While we have no proof that the sale was fraudulent, the circumstances suggest that this helmet never sold for this price.
5. Star Wars – A New Hope: Stormtrooper Helmet Prop
Even though many replica collectibles are limited-run, often with only 100 to 1000 in circulation, movie props are even rarer. Production companies, especially from the 1970s, could only afford to create a few different props for their actors to use. This is true even for a helmet that appeared on dozens of troops in Star Wars,
The Stormtrooper uniform easily stands out for its ability to completely hide the human form, just as George Lucas had originally conceptualized. Even though every Stormtrooper ever known has been a human, he wanted them to have an inhuman, unfeeling look. He trusted Shepperton Design Studios to help bring his vision to life.
To create the Stormtrooper helmet, Shepperton Studios used vacuum-forming casting methodologies. First, khaki-green HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) was vacuum formed into the shape of the helmet. Even though the vacuum forming created a uniform shape for each mold, the company still had to cut out the eyes and the mouth grill for each helmet. This provided identifiable marks that experts have used to match up the helmets with the ones used in the film. At the end of the process, Shepperton applied an off-white/ivory white paint coating.
One of the helmets used in Star Wars: A New Hope went up for sale on Julien’s Auctions in 2022. The company tasked Star Wars helmet authentication experts to comb through the Lucasfilm Archives to authenticate the prop. They double-checked that authentication with their in-house Hollywood memorabilia experts. Even though they found signs of previous restoration attempts, they confirmed that this helmet was one of the props used in the film.
Even though Shepperton had made 50 of these helmets for the movie, only six are known to still be around. Thus, this prop eventually sold for $192,000.00 on July 15, 2022.
4. Boba Fett Rocket-Firing Prototype (L-Slot) AFA 80+ NM
As the 1970s came to a close, the toy industry hit a major road bump. With advances in technology, toy manufacturers had been experimenting with new and exciting ways to create interactivity. This included Mattel’s use of small projectiles that fired with the press of a button which eventually led to a recall. Small children had become victims of these projectiles and choked to death, causing both the recall and a legal battle. In the wake of the public backlash, even more, toy lines lost their firing projectiles for a time.
Even before the drama surrounding projectiles hit, Kenner had many reserves about their plans to release a rocket-firing Boba Fett action figure. The toy used an L-slot trigger that they found was prone to shattering. Not wanting to harm any children, they had already planned to scrap the projectile system. Mattel’s legal issues simply made it easier for Kenner to agree that scrapping the projectile was the correct idea.
Despite the cancelation of the rocket-firing version of Boba Fett, many fans had sworn for decades that they owned this figure. Unless they had ties to Kenner, these stories couldn’t be true, for the projectile version of Boba Fett only made it through to the prototype phase. Still, current fans can say that they own this toy, for several of these prototypes have hit the second-hand market.
One of these rare prototypes popped up on Hake’s Auctions in 2022. To help prove that it was authentic, it came with a Collectible Investment Brokerage (CIB) Certificate of Authenticity. As with most prototypes for this action figure, it was an unpainted figure made of slate grey plastic. When the auction concluded on June 02, 2022, it sold for $236,000.00.
3. Mark Hamill “Luke Skywalker” Hero Lightsaber from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back – Lot 1307
When it comes to movie props, there is nothing better than finding a prop that was used by your favorite character. Many fans easily flock to the main character of the original Star Wars trilogy, Luke Skywalker. Their passion for this character makes it easy to understand how a prop of his iconic lightsaber from both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back would be highly valuable.
To arm Luke Skywalker in these films, the production team made two types of lightsabers. One was a battle version with an extended “saber”. However, there are many points in the film when he had the lightsaber clipped on his belt. This non-combat version of the prop was present in many more scenes than the combat scenes.
To construct the prop, the production team modified an existing Graflex flashlight, which measured 10.5 inches in length. They took this flashlight and modified it by fitting black grips around the base. This grip was then attached with both adhesive and rivets. They also riveted a D-ring to the bottom so that it could hook onto Mark Hamill’s belt. Rather than painting over the Graflex logo, they secured silver tape over it.
The producer of the Empire Strikes Back, Gary Kurtz, had this prop in his archives. The eBay seller who placed this prop up for auction included a Letter of Authenticity from Gary Kurtz to prove that it was genuine. However, the prop was not in perfect shape. For instance, it was missing the circuit board detailing that should have been present around the clasp. The silver tape also had been removed so that the logo was visible.
Despite the condition, this prop sold for $375,000.00 on June 29, 2017.
2. Return of the Jedi – Han Solo Movie Prop DL-44 Blaster with Extras
In many ways, Han Solo is just as popular if not more so than Luke Skywalker. Harrison Ford expertly surprised his signature suave when he placed this smuggler with a heart. While he had no Jedi powers or fortune, he valiantly fought against the Empire alongside his friends and the Rebellion.
Han Solo would never be found without his blaster at his side. However, Harrison Ford did not have only one blaster prop that he used during filming. He had one practical blaster that fired blanks. Meanwhile, fans generally accept that he used 3 non-firing props for other scenes.
To create his signature weapon, BlasTech created the DC-44 design by modifying a German Mauser C96, which is also known as the “Broomhandle Mauser”. While the Mauser had been created by Model Gun Corporation (MGC) of Japan, the production team rented guns from Stembridge Gun Rentals. These prop guns were then used during the filming of The Return of the Jedi.
Julien Auctions put up this prop for sale in 2018. To prove that it was the genuine article, a Letter of Authenticity signed by James Schopped accompanied the prop. They also included multiple extras along with the prop. For instance, it came with an original black and white set photo that featured Han Solo and a rebel fighter at the Endor Shield Generator Bunker. There were also 3 pages of the movie’s script changes, from around pages 83 to 88, and much more.
1. Complete “R2-D2” Unit Assembled from Original Components – Lot 1298
R2-D2 could easily be called the mascot of the entire Star Wars franchise. There has been no film without this droid present to date. He has also appeared in many Star Wars television series, like The Clone Wars. Even though this character has never spoken in a human language, his boops and whistles are well-known, even to non-fans. This makes him easily one of the most beloved characters from Star Wars.
Unlike movie props from other characters, R2-D2 could not be purely classified as a movie prop. In many ways, the droid that was spotted on screen was a costume that acted alongside the rest of the cast. There have been multiple versions of the droid, including a remote-controlled prop. Others were worn by actor Kenny Baker.
Unfortunately, the highest-selling item on our list is the hardest for us to verify. The listing stated plainly that the pieces were assembled from components that were screen-matched to scenes from the original trilogy along with Episodes I & II. While the parts shown from the auction looked genuine, there was no letter of authenticity for the components.
With this in mind, finding an assembled version of the R2-D2 costume is a phenomenal feat. When this eBay auction closed, it claimed to have sold for $2,300,000.00 on June 29, 2017. Assuming that there was no fraudulent activity, this undoubtedly makes it the most expensive Star Wars collectible documented on auction-tracking sites.
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Chris Ingledue
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Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!